Volume 14 · Issue 01 · 2025

The problem caused by viral hepatitis is a major public health challenge faced in the past decade, and the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030 is still far away. With the use of hepatitis B vaccine and the launch of new drugs, there are more means to control viral hepatitis and more technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat it. While improving the coverage of vaccine use, drugs for treating hepatitis B are not only becoming more effective, but also decreasing in price. The objective of this article was to explore the urgent issues that need to be addressed in global viral hepatitis with the increasing availability of vaccines and antiviral drugs.

The updated World Health Organization guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment for people with chronic hepatitis B infection (2024 edition) and Chinese guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (version 2022) simplify clinical algorithms for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of hepatitis B, expand treatment eligibility criteria, and provide alternative treatment options, which will cover a higher proportion of all hepatitis B surface antigen positive populations. These actions promote the global goal of eliminating the public health hazards of viral hepatitis by 2030. Among the countries that have made remarkable progress in eliminating viral hepatitis policies, the key strategy is to simplify the diagnosis and treatment plan. Furthermore, the World Health Organization has identified 38 priority countries for viral hepatitis. Expand access to viral hepatitis services in these countries.

Regions and countries with the high burden of viral hepatitis still need to take urgent action regarding the new measures proposed by the WHO to achieve the 2030 targets. First, countries must establish a complete public health system aligned with the World Health Organization’s strategy. Second, provide effective, people-oriented services and public prevention strategies. Third, prioritize the implementation of health strategies in the 38 identified priority countries. Finally, use complete and measurable data to monitor progress.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a climate-sensitive zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health burden worldwide. While previous studies have established associations between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the heterogeneity of these effects across diverse epidemic regions. Addressing this gap is essential for developing region-specific prevention and control strategies. This study conducted a national investigation to examine the associations between meteorological factors and HFRS in three distinct epidemic regions.

We collected daily meteorological data (temperature and relative humidity) and HFRS incidence cases of 285 cities in China from the Resource and Environment Science and Data Center and the Chinese National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System from 2005-2022. Study locations were stratified into three distinct epidemic categories (Rattus-dominant, Apodemus-dominant, and mixed) based on the seasonality of peak incidence. The associations between meteorological variables and HFRS incidence were investigated using a time-stratified case-crossover design combined with distributed lag nonlinear modeling for each epidemic category.

The exposure-response relationships between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence revealed significant heterogeneity across epidemic regions, as evidenced by Cochran’s Q test for temperature (Q= 324.40, P < 0.01) and relative humidity (Q= 30.57, P < 0.01). The optimal daily average temperature for HFRS transmission in Rattus-dominant epidemic regions (-6.6 °C), characterized by spring epidemics, was lower than that observed in Apodemus-dominant epidemic regions (13.7 °C), where primary cases occurred during autumn and winter months. Furthermore, the association between relative humidity and HFRS incidence exhibited as a monotonic negative correlation in Rattus-dominant regions, while Apodemus-dominant regions showed a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped association.

This study highlights the heterogeneous effects of meteorological factors on HFRS incidence across different epidemic regions. Targeted preventive measures should be taken during cold and dry spring days in Rattus-dominant regions, and during warm and moderately humid winter days in Apodemus-dominant regions. In mixed epidemic regions, both scenarios require attention. These findings provide novel scientific evidence for the formulation and implementation of region-specific HFRS prevention policies.

Clonorchiasis is an important foodborne parasitic disease in China caused by Clonorchis sinensis. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of this disease is vital for treatment and control. Traditional fecal examination methods, such as the Kato-Katz (KK) method, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and have limited acceptance. The FA280, an advanced automated fecal analyzer, increases efficiency while significantly reducing labor load. This study aims to evaluate its performance, applicability, and scalability in clonorchiasis diagnosis to explore its potential application in the future.

A mixed-methods study integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted. The quantitative component consisted of a cross-sectional survey in Xinhui District, Guangdong, China, to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the FA280. The positive rate and agreement between the FA280 and the KK method were evaluated using McNemar’s test. Additionally, Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to analyze the consistency of positive results between the two methods across various eggs per gram (EPG) groups under different cut-off values. The qualitative component included semi-structured individual interviews with medical staff and institutional administrators to examine the FA280’s applicability and potential for broader adoption, with thematic analysis of the data.

In the quantitative study of 1000 participants, both the FA280 and KK methods detected clonorchiasis with a positive rate of 10.0%, achieving 96.8% agreement and showing no significant difference (P > 0.999). The kappa value was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.88), indicating a strong agreement between the methods. The agreement rate for positive results between the two methods was significantly higher in the high infection intensity group compared to the low infection intensity group (P < 0.05). The qualitative study, which involved interviews with three medical staff and two administrators revealed that the FA280 outperformed the KK method in testing procedures, detection results, and user acceptance. The benefits, challenges, and suggestions of FA280 promotion were also emphasized.

This study demonstrated the FA280’s application value in clonorchiasis diagnosis by assessing its detection performance, applicability, and scalability. These findings contribute to the future prevention and control of the disease.

The cytochrome P450s-mediated metabolic resistance and the target site insensitivity caused by the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene were the main mechanisms conferring resistance to deltamethrin in Culex quinquefasciatus from Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the expression levels of cytochrome P450 genes and detect mutations of the vgsc gene in deltamethrin-resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus populations in Thailand.

Two field-collected strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cq_SP and Cq_NiH, were selected with deltamethrin to generate the resistant strains Cq_SP-R and Cq_NiH-R, respectively. Bioassays were tested on larvae and adults of each strain according to WHO methods. Eight cytochrome P450 genes were analyzed for the expression level using quantitative real time-PCR. The cDNA of mosquitoes was amplified and sequenced for four fragments of vgsc gene. The kdr L1014F mutation and the haplotype of the CYP9M10 gene were detected in survivor and dead mosquitoes after exposure to the deltamethrin WHO test paper. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exaction test.

Bioassay tests revealed a significantly higher resistance level in Cq_SP-R than in Cq_NiH-R strains in both larvae and adults. All eight cytochrome P450 genes were significantly overexpressed in larvae of Cq_NiH-R strain compared to the parent and susceptible Cq_Sus strains. The CYP6AA7 and CYP9J34 genes had the highest expression ratios, exceeding 24-fold in Cq_NiH-R larvae. In Cq_SP-R strain, the CYP4H34 and CYP9J34 genes were overexpressed in both stages. The kdr L1014F mutation was found in Cq_SP-R and its parent Cq_SP strains with a significantly higher mutant allele frequency in the survivor mosquitoes than in dead mosquitoes (P < 0.0001). The V240M and novel L925F mutations were found only in Cq_SP-R strain. Heterozygous genotype for the D-Cu(+)/Cu(-) of CYP9M10 gene was detected in Cq_NiH and Cq_NiH-R strains but other strains were mostly homozygous for the Cu(-)/Cu(-).

Overexpression of multiple cytochrome P450 genes alone has a relatively minor impact on resistance. The combined mechanisms of cytochrome P450- and kdr-mediated resistance result in significantly higher resistance to deltamethrin in Cx. quinquefasciatus. This study supports sustainable public health initiatives in Thailand to address the evolving challenges of insecticide resistance.

Asian schistosomiasis is projected to be eliminated by 2030 according to World Health Organization road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030. Snail control is an important measure but has not yet been systematically evaluated at a country scale. Here, we report the findings from a nationwide survey to demonstrate the dynamics of Oncomelania and its potential role in transmission interruption of schistisomiasis in the People’s Republic of China (P.R. China).

Between March 2016 and December 2017, we conducted a nationwide census on Oncomelania snail habitats in P.R. China. All historically recorded snail habitats were identified and reviewed. Information on habitat attributes, including the infestation of snails, was collected. The shape of habitats was determined using global positioning system and geographical information system technologies. The relationship between snail control and schistosomiasis elimination was established in 378 endemic counties. The comparison of accumulated snail-infested range (ASR) and the median ratio of eliminated ASR between the transmission-interrupted and endemic counties was tested by a non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney) with a significance level of 0.05.

Overall, 15,377.7 million m² of potential snail habitats with a total of 356,550 snail habitats were identified in P.R. China. The ASR amounted to 86.0% of the total area. Most of the ASR (94.9%) and habitats (68.5%) were distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Snail habitats were found up to an altitude of 2859 m above the mean sea level. By 2017, 85.1% of habitats (73.0% of the ASR) had been eliminated with almost half of them eliminated between 1965 and 1982. The elimination of snail habitats promoted transmission interruption of schistosomiasis, but showed variable patterns in different landscapes. The ratio of eliminated ASR was 99.6 and 91.4% in water network and hilly areas, respectively, while it was only 64.8% in marshland areas, particularly in Hunan and Jiangxi where the two largest freshwater lakes of P.R. China are located. Marshland habitats were seen as the most difficult for transmission interruption, which calls for additional control measures in these settings.

Our results support recent recommendations by the World Health Organization to implement snail control and demonstrate that schistosomiasis elimination can be achieved. The nationwide, high-resolution map of Oncomelania snail habitats in P.R. China will support further efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis.

Distinguishing between non-severe and severe dengue is crucial for timely intervention and reducing morbidity and mortality. World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended warning signs offer a practical approach for clinicians but have limited sensitivity and specificity. This study aims to evaluate machine learning (ML) model performance compared to WHO-recommended warning signs in predicting severe dengue among laboratory-confirmed cases in Puerto Rico.

We analyzed data from Puerto Rico’s Sentinel Enhanced Dengue Surveillance System (May 2012-August 2024), using 40 clinical, demographic, and laboratory variables. Nine ML models, including Decision Trees, K-Nearest Neighbors, Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machines, Artificial Neural Networks, AdaBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, and XGBoost, were trained using fivefold cross-validation and evaluated with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), sensitivity, and specificity. A subanalysis excluded hemoconcentration and leukopenia to assess performance in resource-limited settings. An AUC-ROC value of 0.5 indicates no discriminative power, while values closer to 1.0 reflect better performance.

Among the 1708 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases, 24.3% were classified as severe. Gradient boosting algorithms achieved the highest predictive performance, with an AUC-ROC of 97.1% (95% CI: 96.0-98.3%) for CatBoost using the full 40-variable feature set. Feature importance analysis identified hemoconcentration (≥ 20% increase during illness or ≥ 20% above baseline for age and sex), leukopenia (white blood cell count < 4000/mm³), and timing of presentation at 4-6 days post-symptom onset as key predictors. When excluding hemoconcentration and leukopenia, the CatBoost AUC-ROC was 96.7% (95% CI: 95.5-98.0%), demonstrating minimal reduction in performance. Individual warning signs like abdominal pain and restlessness had sensitivities of 79.0% and 64.6%, but lower specificities of 48.4% and 59.1%, respectively. Combining ≥ 3 warning signs improved specificity (80.9%) while maintaining moderate sensitivity (78.6%), resulting in an AUC-ROC of 74.0%.

ML models, especially gradient boosting algorithms, outperformed traditional warning signs in predicting severe dengue. Integrating these models into clinical decision-support tools could help clinicians better identify high-risk patients, guiding timely interventions like hospitalization, closer monitoring, or the administration of intravenous fluids. The subanalysis excluding hemoconcentration confirmed the models' applicability in resource-limited settings, where access to laboratory data may be limited.

Data suggest excess mortality is associated with loiasis, which is endemic to Central Africa, although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesized that there could be an association between Loa loa microfilarial densities (MFD) and lower spleen volume (SV) due to micro-obstruction linked to circulating microfilariae (mf). This could result in functional hyposplenia and a higher burden of infections. Our objective was to investigate the impact of L. loa MFD and malaria on spleen’s bi-dimensional dimensions, volume, and parenchymal lesions.

We included 981 participants aged 18-88 years in a cross-sectional study conducted in May-June 2022 in the Republic of the Congo. Centralized ultrasonographic examination was performed. The primary outcomes included SV, splenomegaly (cranio-caudal-distance ≥ 13 cm), and anatomical hyposplenia (AH) (SV ≤ 80, ≤ 110 or ≤ 150 cm³). Blood samples were analyzed for L. loa MFD, Plasmodium-PCR, Anti-Plasmodium falciparum-IgG, total IgM, sickle-cell disease status, and hematological abnormalities. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess these associations.

Among 981 participants, 139 (14.1%) had splenomegaly, and 26 (2.7%) and 175 (17.8%) had SV ≤ 80 and ≤ 150 cm³, respectively. L. loa microfilariae were detected in 353 (35.6%) participants. A gradient effect was observed in each model, with the highest MFD (> 30,000 mf/ml) having the highest adjusted odds ratio of 17.94 (95% CI: 2.91-110.76, P= 0.002), 5.94 (95% CI: 1.40-25.17, P= 0.016), and 5.77 (95% CI: 1.95-17.12, P= 0.002) for SV ≤ 80, 110, and 150 cm³, respectively. Anti-P. falciparum-IgG levels were gradually associated with splenomegaly. Fourteen participants met the criterion for hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly (HMS). Conversely, higher L. loa MFD was correlated with AH, with an attributable fraction of 25%, and the presence of splenic parenchymal lesions.

This study provides a detailed description of spleen morphology and the factors influencing its size in a rural central African population. It demonstrates a strong association between L. loa MFD and reduced SV, suggesting that loiasis may lead to AH, and potentially to functional hyposplenia, with consequences such as increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Malaria was associated with splenomegaly, with a figure of HMS consistent with estimates from other African countries.

The monkeypox virus (MPXV) has raised global health concerns due to its widespread transmission. This study evaluated the MPXV immunogenic antigens and the impact of vaccinia virus (VACV) vaccination and MPXV infection on cross-reactive antibody responses to conserved proteins from representative MPXV strains that reflected the evolutionary trajectory.

Phylogenetic analyses were first conducted to reveal the evolutionary trajectory of MPXV from 1970 to 2024. A total of 84 serum samples were collected: 42 from VACV-vaccinated individuals, 12 from MPXV-infected participants in the early stage, 13 from the late stage, and 17 from naive individuals. Demographic data, MPXV and HIV status, as well as other clinical information were collected using standardized forms. Immunogenicity, cross-reactive antibody responses, and amino acid similarity to 15 MPXV surface proteins were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, VACV neutralization tests, and sequence alignment. Data analysis methods included analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test, binary logistic regression, Pearson correlation, and linear regression, with a significance threshold of P < 0.05.

The 186 complete genome sequences were classified into different clades and lineages, ranging from clade Ia to clade IIb C.1.1. Individuals infected with MPXV demonstrated strong antibody responses to antigens A35R, B6R, H3L, and E8L. VACV-vaccinated individuals exhibited broader cross-reactivity, particularly against A21L (P= 0.0003), A28L (P= 0.0028), A29L (P= 0.0324), G2R (P= 0.0003), and H2R (P= 0.0008), compared to MPXV-infected individuals. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant associations (P= 0.0049) between antibody responses and the amino acid sequence similarity with other orthopoxviruses. Furthermore, MPXV-infected individuals exhibited greater neutralizing activity against VACV than those VACV-vaccinated individuals (P < 0.0001), while the vaccinated group retained cross-protective immunity even decades post-vaccination.

A35R, B6R, H3L, and E8L are the main immunogenic antigens of MPXV. VACV-vaccination triggers a cross-reactive antibody response to MPXV surface proteins. Our findings suggest the need for targeted vaccines and antibody treatments for MPXV, as well as the reintroduction of smallpox vaccinations with booster doses for high-risk groups.

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) and diarrhea remain critical public health concerns. In Indonesia, various interventions have been implemented to reduce the prevalence of ARIs and diarrhea among children in low- and middle-income households. Hence, the absence of detailed data on the prevalence of ARIs and diarrhea among children under five in low- and middle-income households in Indonesia restricts the formulation of targeted health interventions and policies. This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of ARI and diarrhea while examining modifiable risk factors related to malnutrition, sanitation, and social protection characteristics in Indonesia.

This study utilized a cross-sectional design based on data from the Nutrition Status Survey 2022 covering 514 districts/cities in Indonesia. It analyzed 289,631 children under five years out of 334,848 households with low and middle wealth indices. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed to calculate the risk associated with cases of ARI and diarrhea.

The prevalence of ARI and diarrhea among low- and middle-wealth households were 5.7% and 6.0%, respectively, with infants under six months being the most vulnerable group to these infections, including malnutrition. The most significant risk factors for ARI and diarrhea are unclean cooking fuel [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)= 1.53, 95% CI: 1.47-1.60] and shared toilet facilities (aOR= 1.45, 95% CI:1.38-1.51), with households using shared toilets having 1.45 times higher risk of diarrhea (aOR= 1.45, 95% CI: 1.38-1.51) compared to those with private access. Additionally, households lacking social protection support are also at increased risk for these infections and malnutrition issues.

This study revealed a notable prevalence of ARI and diarrhea among low- and middle-wealth households, particularly affecting infants under six months. Vulnerable children, especially those who were stunted or underweight, and households lacking sanitation and social protection faced heightened risks for these health issues.

Scabies represents a global health issue and in 2017 was added to the World Health Organization’s list of neglected tropical diseases. In European and Middle Eastern countries, cases are sporadic while recent surveillance data have pointed out an increasing incidence among vulnerable populations. Regional cases for Lazio, Italy, reported from 2017 to 2023 to the national infectious disease surveillance system were analyzed. In Lazio, just after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic onset, a significant and immediate reduction in the incidence of scabies was recorded (- 79.6%) followed by a progressive and relevant increase (143.4% from 2020 to 2021, 142.3% from 2021 to 2022 and 170.3% from 2022 to 2023). Consistently, the number of scabies outbreaks, after a decrease following the first COVID-19 wave, has progressively increased over time, mainly due to the occurrence of outbreaks in long term facilities (750% from 2020 to 2023). The increased incidence may also be driven by the "pseudo-resistance" phenomenon (under dosed/early-discontinued treatment, suboptimal adherence, reduced drug bioavailability), but also by reduced in-vitro susceptibility to the mainly used scabicides. The rapidly evolving epidemiology of scabies in our country, as documented also in other regions, calls for a comprehensive approach to effectively address the problem.